Cue-trimmer



J. N. MGINTIRE. CUE TRIMMER;

(No Model.)

INVENTOR Www- Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

WITNESSES: AZW

JACOB N. MCINTIRE, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE BRUNSWIGK- BALKE-OOLLENDER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CUE-TRIMMER.

SPECIFXGATZON forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,121, dated September 10, 1895.

Application filed June 11, 1895. Serial No. 5521 (N 11105819 .T0 aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JACOB N. MCINTIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at; New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in One-Trimmers, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to cuecntters, or what are, more properly speaking, cue-trimmers, and is an improvement on that species of device for trimming the end of a billiardcue previous to retipping it in which a stationary knife is used, against which the end of the stick to be trimmed or shaved off is abutted and by which the wood is sheared off by turning the cue relatively to the knife while pressed up against it. This species of cue-trimmer has been made heretofore sometimes with a cutter the shearing-edge of which extended radially from the center to the circumference of the bore of the tubular stick-holder of the device and sometimes with a knife-edge extending diametrically across the entire bore; but in the latter construction the knife has been set always with its edge in a line slightly oblique to a plane or line transverse to the axis of the bore of the stick-holder, and in practice it has been found difficult, it not impossible, to either trim off the one end square-11. e., in a plane transverse to the axis of the tapering cue-or avoid cutting away too much of the stick at each trimming operation.

Another defect in or objection to the cuecutters having the knife-edge arranged across the bore of the holder and in an oblique line, as they have heretofore been made, is that the usual knife-holding plate or disk, though usually centrally perforated, obstructs a free and immediate discharge from the device of the chips cut, so that the operator cannot see exactly how the end of the one is being cut, and as the oblique knife cuts the stick with a helical shaving the cut is often made too deep before the operator discovers just 110W the tool is working.

I propose by my improvement to provide for use a cue-trimmer of the species alluded to which shall be free of the defects above mentioned, that will be exceedingly efficient and desirable in operation, and that will be simple and economic of manufacture, while at the same time strong and durable.

To these main ends and objects my invention consists, essentially, in a cue-trimmer composed of a tubular handle-like holder and a knife or cutting blade fastened to one end thereof and arranged with its edge diametrically of and in a line transverse to the axis of the bore of said holder, the said bore and its transverse cutter being all exposed to view in a manner and for the purposes which will be herein presently fully explained, and as will be mostparticularly pointed out in the claim of this specification.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to make and use onetrimmers embodying the same, I will now proceed to more fully describe my improved construction, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and in which I have shown my invention carried into effect in that precise form of tool or device which I have so far made and used.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end or top View of a cue-trimmer made according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section at the line now of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the holder or hand-piece with a portion broken away. Fig. A: is a longitudinal section at line y y of Fig. 1.

In the several figures the same part will be found always designated by the same letter of reference.

The handle-like tubular holder b is made, preferably, of wood of any desired pattern or design which may be comfortably grasped by the hand of the operator, and with a central cylindrical (or slightly tapering) bore 15 and in practice I have found it desirable to make this part about the size I have shown it in the drawings, though both the size and shape of this holder part may be varied more or less, if deemed expedient. The bore 19 should, however, be made of such size that it will accommodate within it, loosely, as shown too by dotted line at Fig. 2, a one of the largest diameter.

At Fig. l I have shown by a dotted circle the end of acne of about the smallest diameter at the tip end, for the purpose of illustrating an operation to be hereinafter explained.

dis a knife or ietallic cutter which is made, as shown, of about semicircular contour in plan or top view, (see Fig. 1,) but the blade portion of which is both bent and tapered downwardly, as best shown at Fig. 2. This cutter or knife (6 is securely fastened down to the top surface of the slightly-raised portion fof the end of the holder Z) by means of two wood-screws c c, and it is arranged, it will be observed, so that when fastened in its workint, position its cutting edge will cross the upper end of the bore b diametrically and in a line transverse to the axis of said bore.

lhe edge of knife (6 should rest, by preference, in contact with that part of the end of holder 7) which it overlies, and by having the projecting part fof the holder made full low a perfect and forcible contact of the edge of the knife with the end of handle Z) will be always assured in assembling the parts in the process of manufacture of the article or in replacing the cutter (L whenever it may have been taken oil for resharpening. I have sometimes made the edge of the knife to slightly concave, instead of straight, with good effect.

I have found the degrees of taper shown of the upper and lower bent portion of the knife (t to work well, though more or less variation thereof may be made, and, of course, were the under surface of this bent portion of the cutter made with more or less obliquity to the top surface of the holder Z) the part f of the latter would have to be made to project correspondii'igly more or less, compared with what is shown in the drawings.

It will be observed that if made of: wood the handle Z1 can be cheaply manufactured, as it needs only to be turned up approximately to a given exterior size and pattern, with a bore Z1 extending through it, and to then have the greater portion of its squaredolf upper end sawed cross-cut and then slightly out in the direction of the length at the vicinity of shoulder c to form the projecting cutterseatf.

In using thedeyice or tool shown the handle I) may be grasped in the left hand and the cue inserted, as indicated by dotted lines at Fig. 2, whereupon, with the butt of the cue preferably resting" on the floor, the operator, by grasping the body of the stickin his right hand and simultaneouslyturning it in the direction indicated by the arrow atiiig. 1, presses the knife-edge forcibly into contact with the one end, and the latter will be evenly sheared or shaved off by the knife.

In operating the tool, as I have just explained, the device is held (in the left hand) with its cutter a nearest the body of the person using the tool, and in turning the one, as explained, it is best to keep the latter pressed may be left initially at the center of i no end.

The dotted circle at Fig. 1, which itpie:--:;2ti1-3 the end of a small-sized cue, iliustratcs the correct or best position of the one end will 0 turned (substantially on its own axis) to effectuate the cutting. Of course these conditions maybe somewhat reversed by the operator holding the one still and turning (in 111 opposite direction) the holder Z).

As both the cuttingedge of the knife and the one end are exposed to VlQW, the operator can easily see how the knife works, and as there is notthe slightest impediment to tht free escape of the chips by keeping them blown off while working the user of the tool can do the work with gr at nieety, ma: iulating the one and cutter conjointly, so as to shave or trim off the least amount of stock necessary to properly dress the end of the stick for the reception of its new tip or lea: her. This is of considerable iinportau' as every room-keeper knows,snc es imniings of the cues, which have often to be releathered, often shortens the cues iiiulel'h allyin a little while as to spoil or change iiltll balance, to the dissatisfaction of the play ers or users of the cues.

Unless the stock of the one at the of its end shall have become slight down or slivered, (which does not oft cur,) the least possible amount of the want should be trimmed off for the retippinn' tip-' tion, and in practice, with my improved 1; or device, this desired end is am will plishcd.

The cuttcrais seourelyhold in place (under acheap construction) by the screws 0 0, while at the same time there is permitted an imporceptible degree of spring or yield to the cutting-edge that facilitates its perfect: o ration.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to severe by Letters Patent, is

Acne trimmer composed wholly of the tubular holder?) formed with a projection c, wlio'l to one side of the bore; a cutter a, formed with a bent and tapered portion, having; its edge trausverse,or atright angles, to the axis of the bore Z1 and crossing the end of said bore diametrically and with a body portion resting on the projection c; and the securing bolts, or screws 0, operating to fasten the knife directly to the tubular holder; the whole constructed and operating in the manner and 3m the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto s t :n v hand this 8th day of June, 1895.

J. N. MciN'lIiiii. In presence of B. R. RYAN, N. A. QUEENAN.

ITO 

